The Philippine Star - October 22, 2024

In this issue

October 22, 2024

"No let up in OVP confidential fund probe'

A lawmaker has given assurance that there will be \"no let up\" in the House of Representatives' investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged mishandling of government funds, despite what he describes as her troubling display of anger recently.

4 mins

Ampatuan convicted in P393-M graft case

Former Maguindanao governor Sajid Islam Ampatuan, now vice mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in the province, may lose his seat and face life in prison after the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of graft and malversation of public funds.

2 mins

TikTok bans political ads

Candidates in the 2025 elections cannot use short-form video platform TikTok for their campaign.

1 min

Kristine enters PAR, may become typhoon

Tropical Depression Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and is expected to intensify into a typhoon and make landfall in Northern Luzon by Thursday evening or Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

2 mins

17 Abus get life terms for 2000 Sipadan kidnapping

Rody defers facing quad

1 min

Stolen heroes' letter recovered by Nat'l Library from eBay

Three letters – belonging to the government trove known as the \"Philippine Insurgent Records\" (PIR) – were recovered over the weekend by the National Library of the Philippines.

3 mins

DepEd eyes exclusion of rich students from subsidy

State university administrators and the government need to fix the implementation of free college tuition subsidies to prevent wealthy students from pushing out deserving and underprivileged students from the program, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

1 min

Quiboloy to run as independent in 2025 polls

Detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy will run as an independent senatorial candidate in the May 2025 mid-term elections after revoking his \"acceptance\" of the Workers and Peasants Party (WPP)'s nomination.

1 min

Robinsons Land Honors Philippine Business Trailblazers at Asia CEO Awards 2024

Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), one of the country's leading property developers, recently took center stage at the 15th Asia CEO Awards as the Title Sponsor, highlighting its dedication to business excellence and the growth of the Philippine economy. Held on October 8, 2024, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, the event celebrated outstanding companies and leaders driving the nation's progress.

3 mins

Fuel prices down this week

Motorists can expect a slight decrease in domestic pumps today, amid recent developments in the global oil market.

1 min

Fuel prices down this week

Motorists can expect a slight decrease in domestic pumps today, amid recent developments in the global oil market.

1 min

Ship ready for repatriation of OFWs in Lebanon

A chartered ship is ready for the possible mass repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Lebanon, the Department of Migrant Workers said yesterday.

1 min

Phl, US defense officials discuss AFP upgrade, intel sharing

Philippine defense officials and the newly designated US deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia discussed the planned capability upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the conclusion of an intelligence-sharing agreement with the US Department of Defense.

1 min

Quad comm turns over land-grabbing evidence to OSG

Pieces of documentary evidence have been turned over by the House of Representatives quad committee to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to be used for building up cases against Chinese nationals who were able to acquire large swaths of land in the country.

4 mins

Unmentioned

The sanitary landfill operated by Metro Clark in Capas, Tarlac will likely be shut down after all. This will have repercussions on waste disposal throughout Central Luzon. But government claims there is no legal basis for Metro Clark to claim an \"automatic\" 25-year extension of its contract.

3 mins

Justice after 24 years, and counting

Remember Galib Andang, a.k.a. Commander Robot? The notorious Abu Sayyaf bandit was killed together with 12 other members of the terrorist group in 2005 in an attempted jailbreak at the Camp Bagong Diwa detention center in Taguig.

2 mins

Family feud and our tight fiscal space

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Fissiparous Sara D.

VIRTUAL REALITY - Disclosure: The D does not stand for deranged or demented, but rather to the first letter of one of the most awesome political brands locally.

4 mins

What's new, NAIA?

SINGKIT - There was such an outcry when the new parking rates at the NAIA were announced ahead of its implementation last Oct. 1 - from P40 for the first two hours and P15 for every hour thereafter to P50/P25 and for overnight parking from P300 to P1,200.

4 mins

SC upholds life sentence, P2-M fine for SoKor pastor

Over trafficking of minors

2 mins

Belmonte vows more programs for 'inclusive, sustainable' QC

More than five years into her administration, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday touted the local government's achievements in raising the standards of service and the bar of governance in the country.

2 mins

Makati resumes free vax for students

The local government of Makati has resumed its free school-based immunization program for Grades 1 to 7 as well as Grade 4 female students.

1 min

NBI nabs woman in Thai surrogate mom trafficking

Criminal cases were filed against a woman for attempted trafficking of two women to become surrogate mothers in Thailand, National Bureau of Investigation chief Jaime Santiago reported yesterday.

1 min

Crime ring leader nabbed in QC

Police arrested yesterday an alleged leader of a criminal ring responsible for robbery incidents in Quezon City.

1 min

2 killed in Tondo birthday party

Two persons, including a 16-year-old girl, died after being stabbed by a man during a birthday party in Tondo, Manila over the weekend.

1 min

FBI joins search for kidnapped American

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is joining in the search for an American who was kidnapped in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

1 min

1,000 displaced in VisMin flash floods

COTABATO CITY – Up to 1,000 people were forced to evacuate due to flash floods in Cotabato and Negros Occidental over the weekend.

1 min

‘Mastermind’ in MSU campus bombing nabbed

COTABATO CITY – The alleged mastermind in an attack on a Catholic religious ceremony at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi, Lanao del Sur in December has been arrested.

1 min

DA expands ASF vaccination trial in commercial farms

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has expanded the controlled vaccination against African swine fever (ASF), to include commercial farms amid low participation rate among backyard hog raisers.

1 min

Israel bombs Hezbollah-linked financial firm FTUR in Lebanon

BEIRUT (AFP) - Israel conducted airstrikes hitting a Lebanese association linked to Hezbollah, accusing it yesterday of financing the group's weapons, as it expanded the scope of its raids beyond military targets.

1 min

US probes leak of Israel's plan to attack Iran

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is investigating the leak of a pair of highly classified intelligence documents describing Israel's preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday.

1 min

China lodges protest with Myanmar over consulate attack

BEIJING (AFP) - China said yesterday it had lodged a protest with Myanmar authorities after Beijing's consulate in the city of Mandalay was attacked last week with an explosive device.

1 min

Seoul demands withdrawal of NoKor troops in Russia

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador yesterday to criticize Pyongyang's decision to send thousands of soldiers to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said, calling for their immediate withdrawal.

1 min

Kremlin says Moldova's poll results raise many questions

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Moldova's election was not free and the results showed a \"hard-to-explain\" increase of votes in favor of President Maia Sandu and the European Union, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

1 min

Liam Payne fans leave tributes in London, other cities

LONDON (AP) - Hundreds gathered Sunday in London's Kensington Gardens to mourn Liam Payne as fans around the world grieved for the One Direction singer who died this past week.

1 min

Australian senator heckles King Charles

CANBERRA (AP) - An indigenous senator told King Charles III that Australia is not his land and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the monarch is not needed as the country's head of state as the British royal visited Australia's parliament yesterday.

1 min

US defense chief visits Ukraine

KYIV (AP) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit yesterday, hours after a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital and as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky pushes Western partners to keep providing military support for the war.

1 min

Kremlin says Moldova's poll results raise many questions

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moldova's election was not free and the results showed a \"hard-to-explain\" increase of votes in favor of President Maia Sandu and the European Union, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

1 min

Trump holds drive-thru news conference at McDonald's

FEASTERVILLE-TREVOSE (AP) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump manned the fry station at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania on Sunday before staging an impromptu news conference, answering questions through the drive-thru window.

2 mins

US says Thaad anti-missile system 'in place' in Israel

KYIV (Reuters) – The US military has rushed its advanced anti-missile system to Israel and it is now \"in place,\" Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

1 min

Musk's election promise of $1-M giveaway sparks call for probe

HARRISBURG (Reuters) - Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, on Sunday called on law enforcement to investigate billionaire Elon Musk for his promise at a weekend pro-Trump rally to give away $1 million each day until Election Day.

1 min

World Series: Broadway vs Hollywood

NEW YORK (AP) - Broadway vs Hollywood. Subway vs Freeway. Judge vs Ohtani.

1 min

PBA FINALS BATTLE OF SUPER IMPORTS

It's a rivalry that started in Season 47 PBA Governors' Cup and spilled over to the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year.

2 mins

Eyes on Celtics, LeBron

Defending champion Boston launches a quest for back-to-back titles, LeBron James teams with his 20-year-old son and familiar faces debut in new places when the NBA's 79th season begins on Tuesday.

1 min

Controversy in title fight

There were apparent slip-ups in the 12th and last round of the close fight featuring Giemel Magramo against Judy Flores for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) superflyweight title in a \"Blow By Blow\" event at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom, Parañaque last Sunday night.

2 mins

A story straight from Seattle

NOTES ON THE BEAT

4 mins

‘High household debt risky for Phl banks’

Banks in the Philippines are facing moderate risk from household debts given the still huge proportion of underserved Filipinos from formal financial institutions, even as interest rates were the steepest in the country, a global credit watcher said.

2 mins

Market slips as investors wait for fresh leads

The local stock market was off to a slow start this week as investors waited for fresh leads.

1 min

Italy may tap skilled Phl fishermen for work

The government is keen on collaborating with Italy to provide opportunities for Filipino fisherfolk, especially for possible employment in the European country's fishing industry.

1 min

Gov't tightening AI use in creative works

Music, photos and films partially generated through artificial intelligence may soon be protected under the copyright law as the government plans to issue clear guidelines on the use of AI in the creative industry.

1 min

SM opening 87th mall

The SM Group, the largest mall operator and developer in the Philippines, is cementing further its retail dominance with the opening of its 87th mall in the country this week.

2 mins

Uncovering the hidden costs of non-compliance for micro and small taxpayers

These days, many individuals aspire to launch their own businesses with some choosing to start on a smaller scale. Establishing a small business can be both rewarding and challenging. Entrepreneurs need to focus on building their business while also managing the complexities of tax regulations. Small businesses encounter distinct tax compliance challenges, which vary significantly from those faced by larger corporations in terms of structure, responsibilities and penalties.

3 mins

BSP profit soars 5-fold to P95.2 B

The earnings of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ballooned five-fold to P95.2 billion as of end-July on the back of higher revenues and lower spending.

1 min

What makes you pessimistic about problem-solving?

One day, a blue bird flies through an open window of your room. Out of confusion, the bird is trapped. There must be something special about this lost bird. So, you kept the bird in a sturdy shoe box and later on in a secured cage. Then, you fed it for the day. The following morning, you were surprised to see the bird, sporting yellow feathers from blue when you first saw it.

3 mins

Phinma launches first township in Bacolod

Phinma Properties has launched its first township development in Bacolod City called Saludad.

1 min

OFW scams, trafficking continue

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega warns Filipinos, as well as neighboring foreign workers seeking employment abroad, to avoid falling prey to internet recruiters and scammers, who may lead them to be illegally recruited and trafficked for POGO jobs and, in some cases, for surrogacy work.

4 mins

PCCI to gov't: Prioritize ease of doing business

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country's largest business group, will be recommending to the government to focus on measures that could further ease and lower the cost of doing business, as it pushes for digital and innovation adaptation by firms.

2 mins

20 Globe offices shift to renewable energy

Globe Telecom Inc. has completed the shift of 20 of its facilities to renewable power as the telco steps up its sustainability efforts to curb its carbon emissions.

1 min

Cebu Pacific expands Iloilo routes

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific will mount new domestic flights out of Iloilo in December to scale up its local reach from the province in time for the holidays.

1 min

Arthaland cleared on P3-B follow-on offer

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has given listed real estate developer Arthaland Corp. the green light to raise as much as P3 billion from the issuance of preferred shares.

1 min

GSIS sets aside P2.8 B for emergency calamity loans

State-run pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has allocated P2.8 billion in emergency loans to members and pensioners affected by various calamities.

1 min

For insurance plans, young Pinoys now put premium on family protection, emergencies

Investment growth is no longer the top consideration of young Filipinos when getting insurance plans as millennials and Gen Zs now put premium importance on family protection and emergency preparedness.

2 mins

No more perks for ROROs in missionary routes

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suspended the grant of investment protection and lower fees on roll on, roll off (RORO) vessels that offer trips to low-demand routes.

1 min

Citicore, S'pore firm team up for wind venture

Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC), chaired by tycoon Edgar Saavedra, is teaming up with Singapore-based Levanta Renewables for its maiden wind energy investments.

1 min

Nobody Wants This: Love & Tradition in the time of podcasts

Turns out everybody wants to check out Nobody Wants This, a Netflix romcom about a rabbi and a podcaster (with the most liberal of views) wanting each other for better...Or for worse?

3 mins

JAYESSLEE: FILIPINO FANS FEEL LIKE FAMILY

“Do you want us in the Philippines for a concert anytime soon?” This was how the sister duo Janice and Sonia Lee, collectively known as Jayesslee, responded to The STAR question about whether they planned on coming back to the country to perform for their Pinoy fans.

3 mins

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis combine for thrilling 'Warriors' album

NEW YORK - The perilous journey home - it's a tale as old as The Iliad. Now it's a dynamic concept album starring hip-hop legends, Broadway belters and, of all things, the New York subway system.

2 mins

Raymond Lauchengco brings back beautiful memories of the '80s

It's now time for him to go back into singing and say thank you to people who still listen to his songs up to this day. Raymond's hits have transcended time and become soundtracks of our lives. His song Shadow of Time, composed by Louie Ocampo, from the soundtrack of \"Hotshots,\" is a romantic ballad. I Need You Back, written by Odette Quesada, is his first hit.

3 mins

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.